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May 5 Edgemont incorporation--opinion to be released early next week

Thank you for your end-of-week update. I note in the last paragraph that you've decided not to disclose your decision on the certification of the Edgemont incorporation petition.

The decision to certify the petition will affect thousands of your constituents. The impacts are enormous: your action will either allow or deny thousands of your Edgemont constituents their right to vote. Why leave everyone in suspense on matters of democracy?

In this very email, you talk about the wonders of technology and Mr. Sheehan's ability to communicate via video conference during the past few weeks. You could have used this very technology to inform the Town Board about your decision today AND you could have offered the same transparency to the public you represent.

And yesterday in the New York Times, you wrote about the importance of referendum petitions on other candidates, particularly at the national level. But here, on a petition that may affect your job, you are subverting the process by not disclosing the decision you've rendered.

National candidates have withheld their tax returns with claims that they are under audit, but there's no law requiring non-disclosure because of an audit. That choice is the same as yours: you are just choosing not to disclose and hoping the public won't notice.

I urge you to disclose your decision now, and not leave the people of Greenburgh in suspense any longer.

We just received good news from the Westchester Municipal Planning Federation. The town of Greenburgh has beennamed the recipient of the Outstanding Planning Achievement Award by the Municipal Planning Federation for our2016 Comprehensive Plan. It's the first Comprehensive Plan the town has had and will assist the town make smart and good land use decisions in the future. Our Planning staff, dedicated volunteers and citizens from all over the town partnered in coming up with a plan that is being praised county-wide!

Councilman Francis Sheehan, who chaired the Comprehensive Plan Committee, is back at work! He had an operation earlier this year and spent a number of weeks recuperating. But, unlike many people who have major operations and don't work during their recuperation, Councilman Sheehan found a way to participate at Town Board meetings while recovering from surgery at home. He never stopped working! He used Skype - he participated in our work sessions and Town Board meetings and voted. Fortunately, Mr. Sheehan is now healthy enough to attend meetings in person. Modern technology should alsobe used by other officials all over the nation if they are out of town and can't attend Board meetings or have health problems.

As required by NYS law I have made my decision re: Edgemont sufficiency petitions and will file the decision/opinion with the Town Clerk after I meet with the Town Board early next week. Once the decision is filed the opinion will be posted on the town website.PAUL FEINER

On Monday, the Town will make the next $600,000 Fortress Bible bond payment (with a $3M balance outstanding). Greenburgh's unincorporated taxpayers alone must service this expensive liability, which resulted from the Town's violation of a church's constitutional rights.

If you live in Edgemont and have household members who are not registered to vote (including children under age 18 and people who are non-US citizens), please email us at edgemont2019@gmail.com with the names and addresses of all those household members.

Our efforts to secure Edgemont residents the opportunity to vote on our preferred form of local governance have continued throughout the summer. Read below to learn more about the status of the Article 78 and other developments.

Anti-Incorporation and Town led "Edgemont Community Forum" held an event on Wednesday where they brought in a former non-profit, independent governmental consultant, CGR, previously hired by Greenburgh. CGR provided a preliminary view based on the data available on the potential property tax bill impact to the residents of Edgemont.